Bathing cap



March 27, 1962 A. MONTROSE BATHING CAP Filed Jan. 19, 1959 ARTHURMONTROSEB INVENTOR.

HEfiZ/G & JESSU ATTORNEYS"- United States Patent 3,026,526 BATI-IING CAPArthur Montrose, 2058 W. 99th St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Jan. 19,1959, Ser. No. 787,657 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-68) This invention relates to abathing cap, and more particularly to a water-tight bathing cap which isinflatable by the wearer, during use thereof, for effecting awater-tight seal around the lower marginal edge thereof.

Bathing caps are widely used by divers and swimmers to avoid wetting ofthe hair during such activity and in many cases to keep water out of apersons ears which are frequently sensitive to water and waterpressures. Women particularly use bathing caps during swimming anddiving activities to protect their hair and/or-hair-do which wouldotherwise become disheveled. However, bathing caps in general are notentirely water tight around the peripheral edge, with the result that aninjurious amount of water seeps under the marginal edge of the bathingcap. Particularly during diving, the water is forced into the bathingcap, thereby rendering the bathing cap useless as to its purpose.

Entrance of water into the bathing cap during use is due partly to thedesign of the bathing cap, which, in order to be stylish, does notprovide an efficient Sealing edge, and partly due to the fact that ahuman head is irregular in shape, the forehead being the only portionthat can be sealed inasmuch as the forehead is, in most persons, arcuateand forms a tight contact with the forehead portion of the bathing cap.On the other hand, the temple portion, joining the cheeks, and the napeportion of the neck form irregular surfaces which are diflicult to seal.A bathing cap made of elastic material such as rubber, neoprene or thelike, is stretched in the application over the head, whereby the hollowsand ridges of the human head adjacent the marginal edge of the cap formgaps through which water may enter into the cap and defeat the purposeof the cap.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved bathing cap of elastic, resilient material which is provide-dwith a marginal edge adapted to effect a water-tight seal relative tothe users head.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a bathing caphaving an inflatable marginal edge to form a tighter and more eflicientseal relative to a persons head and particularly to follow theirregularities of a human head.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedbathing cap of the character described which is easily and quicklyinflatable by the user after the cap has been placed over the headwhereby the inflatable marginal edge is conformable to the configurationof the users head.

Still another object of this invention is to incorporate the inflationmeans into a chin strap which provides an additional purpose ofretaining the bathing cap on the users head and fastening means forfastening the chin strap to the bathing cap.

Still another object of this invention is to provide valve meansincorporated in the inflation means whereby the user may quickly andeasily close the inflation means for the inflatable marginal edge toretain pneumatic pressure within the marginal edge and which can bequickly and easily opened to release the pressure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedwater-tight bathing cap which is economical to manufacture and capableof mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedbathing cap of the character described which overcomes disadvantages ofprior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generallysimilar purposes.

This invention provides a bathing cap of a pliant, resilient materialhaving a substantially hemispherical hollow cap whose marginal edgedefines an opening for insertion of the head of the user within the cap,the marginal edge being expandable and inflatable to more nearly followthe configuration of the users head, and a chin strap integral with orattached to one side of the cap and having a passage extendingtherethrough and communicating with the inflatable edge. A valve meansis incorporated for manually, selectively closing the passage from theinflatable marginal edge, thereby selectively captivating the air withinthe inflatable marginal edge and releasing the air therefrom, wherebythe user of the cap may, by any suitable means, introduce air into thepassage of the chin strap for inflating the marginal edge to effect awatertight seal of the marginal seal relative to the users head.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from thedrawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a bathing cap designedand constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the bathing capas viewed from the opposite side;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view as takensubstantially along the vertical axis of the bathing p;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view as takensubstantially along a line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along aline 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view as takensubstantially along a line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the fasteningmeans for fastening one end of the chin strap to the bathing cap.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way ofillustration, but not of limitation, a bathing cap, generally referredto by the numeral 10, designed and constructed in accordance with thisinvention. The bathing cap 10 comprises a substantially hemisphericalhollow cap body 11 of a relatively thin, pliant, resilient material,such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or the like. The cap body 11 isherein illustrated as having a rather conventional style andconfiguration whose marginal edge 12 includes a forehead portion 13,adjacent co-extensive temple portions 14 and downwardly extending neckportion 16 which depends sufliciently to cover the ears and the nape forthe neck of the wearer thereby completely enclosing the hair of thewearer which, in the case of long hair, is normally tucked under andwithin the body 11.

In order to provide a sealing engagement between the marginal edge 12and the outer surface of the head, illustrated in broken lines 17, asubstantial portion of the marginal edge 12 is provided with aninflatable tube means 18 which may be integral with the marginal edge 12of the body 11 or may comprise, as herein illustrated, a discrete stripof pliant resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or thelike, cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface 19 of the body11. In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the tube means 18comprises an extruded, or otherwise formed, strip having substantiallyparallel, flat, outer edges 21 cemented or otherwise secured to the body11, a pair of spaced parallel outwardly extending (extending inwardly ofthe cap) doubled-back ridges 22 and an intermediate wall section 23defining a cavity 24 between the tube means 18 ice 3 and the body 11 andfollowing the contour of the marginal edge 12.

The tube means 18 may optionally extend completely around the innerperiphery of the marginal edge 12 or may, as illustrated, terminateadjacent the forehead portion 13 as indicated at 26 and extenddownwardly across the temple portions 14 and the neck portion 16.

In practice it has been found that the forehead portion 13 of a bathingcap forms an adequately tight fit against the forehead of the userinasmuch as the forehead is substantially convexly shaped. The templesof the head, however, are generally slightly concave, whereby a capstretched over the temple portion forms a passageway through which watermay enter into the interior of the cap. Likewise, the nape of the neckis formed with ridges and hollows, thereby forming passages or gapsthrough which water may enter the interior of the cap. By inflating thetube means 18, the ridges 22 are extended into contact with the contoursof the head 17, thereby filling in the depressions and hollows,particularly at the temple portion, the neck portion and additionallyaround the jaw portion which is also irregular in contour.

A strip 27 of pliant resilient material, such as sponge rubber,neoprene, or the like, is preferably disposed within a channel 25 formedby the wall 23 and the ridges 22, the strip 27 being provided with aplurality of longitudinal ridges 28 and grooves 29, whereby expansion ofthe wall 23 forces the relatively soft and spongy strip 27 into intimatecontact with the contour of the head to additionally seal the marginaledge 12 around the head. The strip 27 is preferably continuous andendless whereby the forehead portion 13 is additionally sealed by thestrip, and may be cemented or otherwise secured in the channel 25 and onthe inner surface 19 of the body 11 at the forehead portion 13.

The temple portions 14 of the marginal edge 12 actually extend outwardlyof the line of tension when the cap body 11 is being worn wherebyinflation at these areas may tend to bulge the body 11, causing anundesired exaggerated outer appearance. To avoid this, a reinforcingstrip or backing 31 is preferably interposed between the body 11 and thetube means 18, whereby expansion is achieved primarily in the tube means18 and resulting in a smoother, non-bulging outer appearance of the body11. The strip 31 is preferably formed of a material less elastic thanthe body 11, such as fabric, plastic, or any other suitable material. Asbest seen in FIG. 3, the strip 31 extends from points intermediate ofthe forehead and temple portions indicated at 32 to points adjacent theneck portion 16 and indicated at 33.

Additionally, to prevent excessive bulging of the body 11, the thicknessof the strip material of the tube means 18 is formed substantiallythinner than the thickness of the body 11 whereby expansion is effectedprimarily in the walls of the tube means 18. The peaks 20 of the ridges22 are further reduced in thickness thereby resulting in weakened ormore pliant peaks to eifect greater elasticity and flexibility of thetube means at the peaks of the ridges to conform to the contour of thehead.

This invention provides unique means for inflating the tube means 18 inthe form of a hollow chin strap means, generally indicated by thenumeral 34. The chin strap 34 may be integrally formed with the body 11,as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, or optionally separately formed andsecured to the body 11 as by cementing or the like. The chin 34 istubular and includes a passage 36 extending therethrough andcommunicating with the cavity 24 of the tube means 18 in the area 37 ofjunction of the chin strap 34 with the body 11. The chin strap 34 isopen at its opposite end 38 whereby the user may inflate the tube means18 after the body 11 is installed on the head by blowing into the end 38of the chin strap.

In order to captivate the air within the tube means 18 and preventdeflation thereof, a valve means 39 (see PIG. is provided at thejunction 37 of the chin strap 34 with the body 11 and spaced inwardlyfrom the marginal edge 12 whereby the communication between the passage36 of the chin strap 34 and the cavity 24 may be selectively closed oropen. The valve 39 includes a stem 41 having a plug 42 complementary toa passage 43 of the valve body 44. A transverse opening 46 communicatesbetween the passage 43 and the passage 36 whereby an inward movement ofthe stem 42 causes the plug 42 to close the passage 46 and thereby closeoif the passage 36 from the cavity 24 to captivate air within the cavity24.

Outward manually effected movement of the stem 41 causes the plug 42 toopen the passage 46 to communicate between the passage 43 and thepassage 37 to admit air into the cavity 24 to inflate the tube means 18or permit escape of air therefrom for deflation. The stem 41 and thebody 44 are preferably formed of a plastics material which is relativelyresilient whereby the plug 42 is frictionally held within the passage 43to retain the plug 42 in a sealing position. It is to be understoodhowever that other materials may be used and the stem 41 adapted toretain the plug 42 in its open or closed position as by complementarythreads on the stem and in the body 44, if desired.

In order to retain the cap 10 on the users head 17, the chin strap ispreferably securable at its free end 38 to an opposing portion of thebody 11 as indicated at 47. For this purpose, an adjustable fasteningmeans or slide, generally indicated by the numeral 48 and best seen inFIG. 7, is slidingly disposed on the end 38 which comprises asubstantially rectangular body 49 having an opening 51 therethrough forreceiving the chin strap 34. The body 49 includes a pair of transverseend members 52 having arched central portions 53 which bridge thecentral portion of the chin strap 34, and an intermediate transversemember 54 having an oppositely arched portion 56 and having securedthereto one member of a malefemale snap 57, such as the male portion 58.

The fastening means 48 is slidably disposed on the chin strap 34 withoppositely facing pressure points 59 and 61 of the transverse members 52and 54 respectively bearing against opposite parallel edges 62 of thechin strap 34 to frictionally engage the chin strap 34, the chin strapex tending into the opening 51 and bridging over the intermediatetransverse member 54, as best seen in FIG. 7. The oppositely archedportions 53 and 57 of the transverse members 52 and 54 respectivelypermit passage of air through the chin strap 34 without removal of thefastening members 48. The body 49 may be secured to the body 11 bysnapping the male member 58 of the fastening means 57 into acomplementary female member 63 secured to the body portion 11. In thismanner, the passage 36 extending through the chin strap 34 is constantlyaccessible and clear for inflation or deflation of the tube means 18,the communication between the passage 36 and the cavity 24 beingcontrolled by the valve means 39 for selectively opening and closingthereof.

As will now be more clearly understood, after the user has placed thebathing cap 10 on the head, the stem 41 is pulled outwardly, or screwedoutwardly if a threaded stem and body is used, to open the passage 46and effect communication between the passage 36 of the chin strap 34with the passage 43 of the valve 39 and thereby the cavity 24 of thetube means 18. The user may then inflate the tube means 18 by blowinginto the open end 38 of the chin strap, or optionally by mechanicalmeans such as an air pump or the like, to cause the ridges 22 of thetube means 18 and the ridges 28 of the strip 27 to come into intimatecontact with the contour of the users head, filling in any hollows orirregular portions of the contour, thereby effecting a water-tight sealaround the marginal edge 12 of the body 11. It is to be understood thathydraulic pressure may be used to expand the tube means if desired. Thestem 41 may be then pushed inwardly to close communication between theopening 46 and the passage 43 to captivate the pneumatic pressure withinthe cavity 24 to retain a sealing Water-tight engagement between themarginal edge 12 and the contour of the head. The chin strap 34 may bethen secured at its free end 38 to the body 11 as by the fastening means57 after adjusting the body 49 of the slide 48 to provide a comfortableyet adequate retaining force on the body 11 to retain the cap on thehead 17.

While I have herein shown and described what I conceived to be the mostdesired form of my invention, it is to be understood that alterationsand modifications thereof may be made in a manner to satisfy the spiritof my invention which is intended to comprehend any and all equivalentdevices as comprehended in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap ofpliant resilient material and having a marginal edge, said marginal edgeincluding a forehead portion, a pair of co-extensive temple portions anda depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollowtube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said capand adjacent said marginal edge; hollow chin strap means having apassage therethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integralwith said cap and having said passage in communication with the interiorof said tube means, the other end of said passage being open forpneumatically and selectively inflating said tube means; and fasteningmeans operatively associated with said chin strap and said cap means forremovably securing the other of said ends of said chin strap means tosaid cap, and valve means in said cap means for selectively closing saidpassage from communication with said interior of said tube means.

2. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap ofpliant resilient material having a marginal edge, said marginal edgeincluding a forehead portion, a pair of coextensive temple portions anda depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollowtube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said capand adjacent said marginal edge; hollow chin strap means having apassage therethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integralwith said cap and having said passage in communication with the interiorof said tube means, the other end of said passage being open forpneumatically and selectively inflating said tube means; fastening meansoperatively associated with said chin strap and said cap means forremovably securing the other of said ends of said chin strap means tosaid cap, said hollow tube means including closed ends adjacent saidfore-head portion of said marginal edge and said tube means extendingparallel to said temple and neck portions of said marginal edge, andvalve means in said cap means for selectively closing said passage fromcommunicating with said interior of said tube means.

3. A bathing cap as in claim 2 including pliant resilient strip means onthe inner surface of said cap means and adjacent said marginal edge,said pliant strip means comprising sponge rubber means havinglongitudinal ridges and grooves.

4. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap ofpliant resilient material having a marginal edge, said marginal edgeincluding a forehead portion, a pair of coextensive temple portions anda depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollowtube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said capand adjacent said marginal edge; said hollow tube means being relativelyflat and conformed to provide a cavity having received therein pliantresilient strip means; hollow chin strap means having a passagetherethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integral with saidcap and having said passage in communication with the interior of saidtube means, the other end of said passage being open for pneumaticallyand selectively inflating said tube means; fastening means operativelyassociated with said chin-strap and said cap means for removablysecuring the other of said ends of said chin strap means to said cap,said hollow tube means including closed ends adjacent said foreheadportion of said marginal edge and said tube means extending parallel tosaid temple and neck portions of said marginal edge, and valve means insaid cap means for selectively closing said passage from communicatingwith said interior of said tube means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,246,948 Sears Nov. 20, 1917 1,349,206 Jeffers Aug. 10, 1920 1,390,628Litchfield Sept. 13, 1921 1,746,477 Howland Feb. 11, 1930 1,950,081 DeLaney Mar. 6, 1934 2,033,802 Abram Mar. 10, 1936 2,192,080 Hock Feb. 27,1940 2,192,837 Lusk Mar. 5, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 818,539 France June 21,1937 56,620 Denmark Sept. 4, 1939

